cutting back a Rhododendron?

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rabidhunter66 Stockton Springs, ME Jun 29, 2007

We have a large Rhododendron right next to our house and we are having someone install siding, roof and a very large spruce tree removed right next to it. Our question is how do we cut or trim this back to get it out of the way some and not damage it?

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Jun 29, 2007

The best time to cut/prune your Rhododendrons are after they have finnished flowering, they make the next years buds onto the ends of this years stems/branches, you can see them forming as soon as you deadhead the old flowers off, If this is a really large shrub, I would advise normally to just prune half one year and then the following year, prune the next half, this makes sure that you always have sap riseing and planty greenery, however if you intend to cut more severe than that, then do so, but make sure you leave plenty green leaves and side shoots so that it continues to grow rather than send it into shock with a complete bare branched mess, you wont get new flowers next year unless you are able to leave some of this years growth on it, but with a good mulch of acidic compost and some leaf mould added around the roots, keep it well watered and give a Rhododendron feed, it wont be long till it starts to recover, you may experience some sap weeping from the branches, but it will soon stop and the wound will heal itself, it should start to regrow for you and flower again in a couple of years. If the shrub is really tall, could you not throw a sling like ties around it, maybe useing an old hessian sack so you dont damage the branches, then get stakes into the ground and force it forward away from where the work is going on as a temp measure allowing the workmen to get behind it as they will not be in the one area for a long period of time, I always point out to any workmen what plants need care when working around them and to be fair, I have always had cooperation from them, a wee bit damage, yes, but a whole large shrub, no, they seem to understand the problems and work around it if pos. Good luck anyway. WeeNel.

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rabidhunter66 Stockton Springs, ME Jun 29, 2007

Thankyou very much we will try and tie it back from the work area. For some reason I hit a grey moment there and didnt even think of that.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Jun 30, 2007

No prob, I know the feeling, my brain has gone haywire all evening and cant even stay on the same channel as everyone else, put it down to being tired, I had a housefull of visitors all week and the weather was hell, so I should recover in a day or so. Good Luck with your work and garden, WeeNel.

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